The Tangled Web We Weave – Flash Fiction

The Tangled Web We Weave

He never listened. Oh, he heard, but was incapable of listening to her.

In the beginning she loved his intelligence and sweetness. There was something deliciously romantic about his thoughtful gestures. He cast a spell on her, capturing her in his jeweled web. Making sure she was good and stuck in place. She could neither come nor go. The quirkiness of his personality once refreshing and keeping her always on her toes, now suffocating. Trapped by his weirdness that quickly lost its appeal. Squeezing the breath from her lungs and energy from her body.

What she mistakenly took for romance was actually a predator luring his prey. Now his web constricts and chokes her until she is no more.  To her, death is quite romantic. She speaks no more but he didn’t listen to her anyway.  If he couldn’t have her, then nobody would.

Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved
 
Bjorn is hosting Prosery Monday at D’Verse. He has prompted us with a line from Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row to be included in our piece of flash fiction to be no more than 144 words.
”To her, death is quite romantic”

  16 comments for “The Tangled Web We Weave – Flash Fiction

  1. October 29, 2022 at 6:31 am

    As Angela Carter said in the Company of Wolves – (badly paraphrasing here) not all wolves have fur on the outside.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 30, 2022 at 8:23 am

      Yes! They come in sheep’s clothing sometimes ☺️💕.

  2. sanaarizvi
    October 12, 2022 at 10:59 am

    This is incredibly hard-hitting and evocative! The line by Dylan fits in here so seamlessly. Alas, this happens quite often… a dangerous obsession that leads to no good.. sigh..

    • Christine Bolton
      October 12, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      Scary isn’t it Sanaa. So easy to fall into someone’s web. 😧

  3. October 11, 2022 at 3:24 pm

    Alas.. when you realizes you are trapped it is often too late.

  4. October 11, 2022 at 5:46 am

    Unfortunately, this is quite the reality in many relationships

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2022 at 8:45 am

      Yes, why do some have to have that power over another? So sad 😢

      • October 11, 2022 at 10:38 am

        It’s sadistic

  5. October 11, 2022 at 4:22 am

    The situation you describe is sadly familiar to so many women – the outcome isn’t unusual, something I’ve read and heard about many times. You portrayed the toxic relationship and its outcome so well, Christine, especially in ‘The quirkiness of his personality once refreshing and keeping her always on her toes, now suffocating’.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2022 at 8:46 am

      Thanks Kim. It is a sad situation for many. 😢

  6. October 10, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    Well done Christine! Sadly, this happens all too often!

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2022 at 8:48 am

      Thank you Dwight. Indeed those power plays are more common than we know.

      • October 11, 2022 at 10:47 am

        I agree!

  7. October 10, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    Christine, you expertly described the dynamic. How the first sentence and the next to the last line pair up chills and saddens me more than words can say.

    • Christine Bolton
      October 11, 2022 at 8:34 am

      Thank you Lisa. Im happy you liked it. I went back to read my post again and was horrified to see the typo and the fact I had left out half a sentence! 😧. Whenever I use an ipad I mess up!

      • October 11, 2022 at 11:22 am

        Your message got through regardless. You’re welcome!

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